The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1887-03-17

against railroads for damages of prop
erty some other resource than by awards
of masters in chancery in the United
States courts, and without prejudice to
their rights under the new order of things
caused by railroads passing into the
hands of receivers.
Substitute house bill No. 194-Extend-
ing the scope of the law as to offenses
against property so as to embrace mali
cious injuries by explosives In houses, land
other causes, was read for the third time.
The penalty, where the damage is not
over $50, is fine of not over 81 900; and
where the damage is greater than $50 the
penalty is from two to five years in the
penitentiary.
Pending consideration the house got
under call, and house bill No 355, adding
agriculture to the province of the duties
of the commissioner of statistics, passed.
Mr.. Steele called up house bill No. 257
amending the law against selling intoxi-
cants in prohibition districts.
Mr.. Prendergast offered substitute for
the bill, and moved that the bill and sub
stitute be postponed till Monday, to be
printed. Carried.
Senate bill No 20 was under consider
alton when, the call of the house being
suspended house bill 1874 was again con-
sidered and passed.
Senate bill No. 20, amending the law of
sequestration, passed.
Senate bill 155, amending the practice
as. to taking dispositions of witnesses,
passed.
Senate bill 2S1, creating a committee
of arbitration and award of three judges,
to have to have the same salary as judges
of the supreme court which revives what
is known as the court of commissioners
of appeals, passed.
The house refused to reconsider the
bill.
House bill No. 345, Mr.. Gresham's
amending the law prescribing certain
duties to be performed by railroad com
panies operating in this state, came up
with an amendment, offered by Mr.. Bell,
of Cooke, embracing an elaborate
schedule of freight rates and tariff table
of distances.
Mr.. Bell, of Denton, spoke in favor of
the amendment, and the amendment which
he offered to the amendment, changing
some of the rates. He thought there was
some merit on the commission bill which
the house passed, but it might not become
law, and the house, he argued, should
pass a schedule bill, so the senate could
have both from the house before them.
Mr.. Bell, of Cooke, thought the amend
ments proposed to his own were good
ones, and we're evidently presented with
proper information as to their effects
Other members might suggest, from their
experience, further desirable changes.
Mr.. Page argued that railroads die
not reduce rates, and were as in
exorable as the Roman tax gatherers, and
that the short haul sections in the state
we're having to stand high rates that low
rates might obtain on the long hauls.
Pending further discussion the house
adjourned till O'Clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The house adopted in the Gresham
railroad bill various amendments to Mr.
Bells classification amendment, which is
a mass of figures to cover transportation
of all classes of freight for series OF
distances, increasing every ten miles from
ten to $50 miles.
The amended amendment was adopted
and the bill, as amended, was engrossed.
The senate partition fence bill passed
to the third reading.
Also senate bill amending the law as to
venire.
Also senate bill authorizing cities ano
towns to compromise their indebtedness
and lower their rates of special taxation
so as to correspond to reduced obligations
The sheriff's fee bill, as recommended
by the sheriff's convention, was engrossed
House adjourned till $3.50 Saturday
morning.
SATURDAYS PROCEEDINGS.
House was called to order by the speak
err. Prayer by the haplain.
A motion was entered to reconsidel
house bill No. 1874 extending the scope o.
the law as to offenses against property.
Senate land bill No. 219 was made thu
continuing special order from Monday
next at IL o'clock.
} Substitute for house bill No. 344 ant
: 472, amending the law validating tai
sales, was engrossed.
! number of petitions were presented
on various subjects among them:
By Mr.. Baylor-From citizens of Ton
Green county, asking for the creation OF
} S new county, to be named Ross county
and to be attached, for judicial purposes
to Mitchell county.
! By Mr.. Biard-From citizens of Brown
county in favor of the bill to regulate
pharmacy in this state.
By Mr.. Jackson-From citizens Of JEFF
ferson county, asking for the establish
ment of an agricultural college for color
ed youth.
The report Of the special joint commit
tee on the past management of the comp
} trollers office was read. 1t is the SAM
report presented yesterday in the senate
Senate bills No. 81, relative to partition
: fences; No. 66,amending article COS of tn
law of special venire; No. 129, authorizing
counties to compromise their indebted
| ness, were passed.
Senate joint resolution requesting the
7 attorney general to sue railroads ant
other corporations which have forfeited
land grants from the state was adopted.
House bill No. 203, preventing foreign
e ers or foreign corporations from. holding
lands in Texas, came up, but as 1t had no
been reported from the committee, wa
y deferred, but not till Mr.. Biard, of Lamar
q had gotten off a pretty speech, in hi
:. usual impressive style, against the bill.
= Messrs. Garwood and Chapman als'
| spoke against the bill.
{ House bill No. 364, validating the act
: of the land board under the act OF Apr
~, 1888, came up for engrossment.
) Mr.. Shield enquired if the bill affecte'
4 lands in Greer comfy. and If the liant